#SUET FEEDER HOW TO#

Long soak in a boiling hot bowl of water can loosen the bird poop or stubborn suet, whilst allowing the grease to dissolve part way, or most of the way.Īfter this long soak there will be grease remaining, in which case can be wiped off using a cloth - or use a scour if a persistent buildup of suet can't be lifted up. With that in mind, understand dish soap residue must be rinsed off to prevent this soap staining the suet feeder itself, or indeed being ingested by birds.

Its readily available, cheap and easy to use on bird feeders.

#SUET FEEDER HOW TO#

How to clean a greasy feeder, in which this is what will happen as a fatty bird food - is to simply use a degreasing dish soap you use at home. In turn the suet bird feeder will not be given time to buildup in a greasy coating, with any suet residue or bird poop staining the interior or exterior. Unused suet can be frozen or stored in a refrigerator to keep it fresh until it is needed.I will say as soon as you begin using a suet bird feeder which creates harder to remove grease, is to clean this feeder more often than peanut or seed feeders. To keep suet from spoiling, place it in a shaded, cool area and only offer as much suet as the birds can eat in a day or two. Suet can spoil in high temperatures and may go rancid, making it less attractive and unhealthy for the birds. Suet feeders can also be moved indoors overnight so pests cannot visit after dark. Offering only as much suet as can be eaten in a day or two will keep other animals from being attracted to leftover, uneaten suet. Feeders should be positioned carefully so these pests cannot access the suet. Suet can be highly attractive to bird feeder pests such as mice, rats, raccoons, squirrels, and even bears. Choosing upside down suet feeders or feeder designs with exterior cages will minimize the suet these larger birds can access without preventing smaller birds from feeding. Suet is a favorite food of many backyard birds, but less desirable birds such as European starlings and red-winged blackbirds will also visit suet feeders, often devouring the suet before other birds can feed. Many birders also choose to offer suet only in cooler months, but if placed properly, a high quality suet can be offered all year round. Putting suet feeders in shaded areas can also keep the cakes from melting as quickly. No-melt suet blends are available that have been more finely rendered and can withstand higher temperatures. This is also a great way to get birds to try suet if they aren't used to it.īecause suet is rendered fat, it will melt in high heat or direct sunlight. Small suet chunks, pellets, or crumbles are made for tray feeders, or birders can shred or chop larger suet cakes into tasty bites that will tempt small birds. Suet bags are not always best for feeding larger woodpeckers or suet-loving birds, however, but they are ideal for small birds such as nuthatches, tits, and chickadees.Ī suet cake or leftover pieces of suet can be added to a platform or tray feeder for many birds to sample, including birds that may never visit more specialized suet holders. Balls, chunks, or cakes of suet can fill the bag rather than needing specific sizes or shapes for the feeder. This is an easy suet feeder for recycling onion bags or similar items. Many log feeders will have natural bark or cut ridges to provide extra clinging security for feeding birds.Ī hanging mesh bag can be filled with suet for small clinging birds to enjoy. These feeders are also easy to make with a spade drill bit the same diameter as suet plugs. The wood keeps the suet dry and protected. The plugs are inserted into the holes and birds can cling to the wood, just as the birds would naturally cling to a tree trunk or branch. Simple logs with predrilled holes are made for feeding suet plugs. Many cage suet feeders include tail props for woodpeckers or other clinging birds, and covers are also popular to protect the suet from the elements. Cages may be made to hang independently or may be attached to hopper feeders that will hold seed as well. The Spruce Home Improvement Review BoardĬage feeders are the most popular type of suet feeder, and are typically made of coated wire for strength and easy cleaning.